Elevating, transporting, and discharging apparatus.



wm-ms T. S. WATSON. ELEVATING, TRANSPORTING, AND DISGHARGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.2,1911.

1,019,867, Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

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T. S. WATSON.

ELEVATING, TRANSPORTING, AND DISGHABGING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED n.2, 1911.

1,019,867, Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS S. WATSON, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO THOS. S. WATSONCOMPANY, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 12, 1912.

Application filed March 2, 1911. Serial No. 611,903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, TnoMAs S. WVA'rsON, a citizen of the United States,residing in Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of\Visconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Elevating,Transporting, and Discharging Apparatus, of which the following is adescription, reference being had to the accompanying draw ings, whichare a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in elevating, transporting anddischarging ap paratus for handling coal or other mater alv It is one ofthe objects of this invention to provide an elevating, transporting anddischarging apparatus in which the con struction is simplified by havingthe main hoisting motor adapted to also open and close the materialholding receptacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theclass described in which the independent control of a motor on thecarriage serves to draw in the SlilCh of one of the operating cables andalso on pedites the opening of the material recep tacle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theclass described in which the counterweight ordinarily used may bedispensed with, if desired, without materially affecting the operationof the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide an elevating,transporting and discharging apparatus which is adapted for use inconnection with long and short hauls and in which the traversing motormay be placed on a fixed support in a short haul apparatus and in a longhaul apparatus the traversing motor may be placed on the carriage andthe carriage cable be dispensed with.

A further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of theclass described in which the counterweight is raised or lowered to raiseor lower the receptacle by means of an independent motor located at afixed point.

With the above, and other objects in view, the invention consists of theelevating, transporting and discharging apparatus as set forth in theclaims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views: Figure 1 is a side view ofa portion of a tower provided with the improved elevating, transportingand discharging apparatus, parts brolccii away; Fig. 9 is a diagrammaticperspective view of the cable system thereof and also showing thecarriage, the motors, the counterweight and the pulleys; Fig. 3 is a topview of the carriage modified to the extent of having the motors mountedthereon; Fig. 4 is a side view thereof; and Fig. 5 is a detail view ofthe electric controller handle for controlling the modified form ofcarriage.

Referring to the drawings the numeral 8 indicates a portion of a towerwhich is mounted on wheels 9 adapted to travel on the track 10 in theusual manner. The tower is provided with a boom 11,, and tracks 12carried by said tower and boom support a carriage 13 which is adapted totravel back and forth thereon. A hoisting drum 141 and a receptacleopening and closing drum 15, respectively, are mounted on the carriageand have connected thereto a drum rope or cable 16 which is woundtherearound and depends downwardly therefrom. The depending ends 17 and18 of the cable are connected, respectively, to the receptacle 19 and tothe opening and closing mechanism 20 of said receptacle. This cable 16extends from the hoisting drum 141 in the direction of the line oftravel of the carriage to and around a guide pulley 21, upwardly andaround and depending in a loop 22 between pulleys 23 and returning inthe direction of travel over the carriage and around a pulley 2L locatedat the free end of the boom and from thence returning to the receptacleopening and closing druni 15 and terminating in the end 18 beforedescribed. A pulley 25 engaged by the loop 22 of the cable 16 isjournalcd in a strap 26 which carries a counterweight 27 in the lowerportion thereof. A counterweight operating cable 28, the upper end ofwhich is connected to the upper end of the counterweight strap, extendsupwardly therefrom between the looped portion of the cable 16 and arounda pulley 2.) and down to the drum of the counterweight motor 30 locatedon the tower. The cable is wound around the said drum and dependsdownwardly therefrom and around the guide pulleys 31 and up to and isconnected to the lower end of the counterweight strap 26 so that whensaid motor is rotated, the counterweight will be raised or lowered withthe loop 22 of the cable 16 and cause the raising or lowering of thereceptacle 19. An electric brake 32 having a geared connection with thehoisting drum 14 is adapted to retard the speed of rotation of the drumin order to open or close the jaws of the receptacle when desired. Inthis short haul apparatus the motor 34 for traversing the carriage backand forth along the track is located on the tower and a traversing ropeor cable 35 wound on the drum of said motor extends in the direction oftravel of the carriage and the opposite ends of the cable are connectedto opposite ends of the carriage. The cable is supported on suitablepulleys 36 located at opposite ends of the trackway and on the upperintermediate pulley 37 for supporting the portion of the cable whichextends over the carriage. The motors on the tower are controlled by theelectric controllers 37 while the retarding brake on the carriage iscontrolled by the push button contact forming part of one of the handlesof said controllers.

The operation of the apparatus thus far described is as follows:Assuming that the parts are in the positions shown and it 1s desired tocharge the receptacle and. convey the material to the opposite end ofthe track and discharge it, the counterweight cable motor is rotated tolift the counterweight which movement will shorten the loop of the drumcable and lower the material bucket or receptacle. At the same time thepush button is pressed to cause the retarding brake to slightly retardthe rotation of the hoisting drum which will cause the jaws of thebucket to open while the bucket is dropping toward the material. Themomentum of the. dropping receptacle will force the jaws thereof deeplyinto the material so that when the motors are reversed and the retardingbrake retards the rotation of the hoisting drum, the opening and closingdrum will draw'in its cable at a greater rate of speed and cause thejaws to dig into the material and fill the receptacle and the receptaclewill then be elevated to a point adjacent to the carriage by the pull.of both cables. The traversing motor is now started to pull on thetraversing cable and pull the carriage to the opposite end of the track,the drum cable being carried along by the carriage and playing freelythrough the counterweight pulley and the guide pulleys. As-soon as theopposite end of the track is reached, the traversing motor will bestopped and the counterweight cable motor rotated to again. raise thecounterweight and lower the bucket and at the same time the retardingbrake is operated to re .tard the hoisting drum and the jaws of thebucket will then open and discharge the material.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 3

and 4 the traversing motor 34 is mounted direct-1y on the carriage andthe traversing cable 35 is dispensed with. This motor has a gearedconnection with the carriage wheel shaft 37 for driving the carriageback and forth on the track. In this modified form of apparatus it isdesirable to provide means for taking up slack in the opening andclosing portion of the cable 16 to prevent whipping of the cable and toaccomplish this result a small motor 39 mounted on the carriage andgeared to the opening and closing drum 15 is provided for acceleratingthe speed of rotation of said drum and keeping the cable taut. A cab 40suspended from the carriage of the modified form of apparatus is adaptedto accommodate the electric motor controllers 37, before described, ifdesired in order to control the motors from said carriage. The accelerating motor 39 is controlled by a push button connected to one of thecontroller handles which is similar to the push button sh own forcontrolling the brake. In the operation of this modified form ofapparatus the counterweight cable motor is rotated to raise and lowerthe receptacle and the retarding motor rotated to control the openingand closing of the jaws of the receptacle in the same manner as beforede scribed and the traversing motor on the carriage is rotated to causethe travel of said carriage on the track. In operating the apparatus ata fast rate of speed the tendency of the opening and closing cable tosag and whip is overcome by means of the accelerating motor which isrotated to take up slack and hold the cable taut.

The independent connection of the hoisting motor to the counterweightcable provides a simple construction and relieves the carriage of theweight of the motor and also provides for eliminating the counterweightif desired as it is obvious that the said weight may be dispensed withand the l apparatus will operate in the same manner with the exceptionthat the receptacle will not be counterbalanced and more power will berequired to elevate the receptacle.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the apparatus isvery simple in construction and operation and is well adapted to performthe functions desired. The novel arrangement and construction of theparts provides for the location of the smaller motors either on thecarriage or on the relatively fixed support and thus adapts theapparatus to a large variety of uses and modifications.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. An apparatus for elevating, transporting and discharging material,comprising a track, a carriage provided with a material holdingreceptacle constructed to travel on the track, a cable connected to thecarriage and to the receptacle and having a loop formed therein atrelatively a fixed point, said cable adapted to open and close and raiseand lower the receptacle, another cable connected to the loop of thefirst mentioned cable for controlling the length of said loop, and meansfor causing the travel of the carriage on the track.

2. An apparatus for elevating, transporting and discharging material,comprising a track, a carriage constructed to travel on the track andprovided with cable drums, a cable wound on the drums and extending inthe direction of the line of travel of the carriage and having a loopformed at a point relatively fixed with relation to the carriage, amaterial receptacle suspended from the carriage by said cable and alsoopened and closed by said cable, a means for extending and contractingthe cable loop to raise and lower the receptacle, and means fortraversing the carriage on the track.

3. An apparatus for elevating, transporting and discharging material,comprising a track, a carriage constructed 'to travel on the track andprovided with cable drums, a cable wound on the drums and extending inthe direction of the line of travel of the car riage and having a loopformed at a point relatively fixed with relation to the carriage, amaterial receptacle suspended from the carriage by said cable, anothercable connected to the loop of the first mentioned cable for extendingand contracting the cable loop to raise and lower the receptacle and toopen and close the receptacle, a motor for operating the cable connectedto the loop, and means for traversing the carriage on the track.

4. An apparatus for elevating, transporting and discharging material,comprising a track, a carriage constructed to travel on the track, drumsjournaled on the carriage, a cable wound on the drums and extending inthe direction of the line of travel of the carriage and having a loopformed at a point relatively fixed with relation to the carriage, amaterial receptacle suspended from the carriage by said cable, means forretarding the rotation of one of the drums to open and close thereceptacle, another cable connected to the loop of the first mentionedcable for extending and contracting the loop to raise and lower and openand close the receptacle, and means for traversing the carriage on thetrack.

5. An apparatus for elevating, transporting and discharging material,comprising a track, a carriage constructed to travel on the track, drumsjournaled on the carriage, a cable wound on the drums and extending inthe direction of the line of travel of the carriage and having a loopformed at a point relatively fixed with relation to the carriage, amaterial receptacle suspended from the carriage by said cable, meansmounted on the carriage for retarding the rotation of one of the drumsto open and close the receptacle, another cable connected to the loop ofthe first mentioned cable for extending and contracting the loop toraise and lower and open and close the receptacle, and means fortraversing the carriage on the track.

6. An apparatus for elevating, transporting and discharging material,comprising a track, a carriage constructed to travel on the track, drumsjonrnaled on the carriage, a cable wound on the drums and extending inthe direction of the line of travel of the carriage and having a loopformed at a point relatively fixed with relation to the carriage, amaterial receptacle suspended from the carriage by said cable, a brakemounted on the carriageand engaging one of the drums for retarding therotation of said drum to open and close the receptacle, another cableconnected to the loop of the first mentioned cable for extending andcontracting the loop to raise and lower and open and close thereceptacle, and means for traversing the carriage on the track.

7. An apparatus for elevating, transporting and discharging material,comprising a track, a carriage constructed to travel on the track, ahoisting drum and an opening and closing drum mounted on the carriage, acable wound on the drums and extending in the direction of the line oftravel of the carriage and having a loop formed at a point relativelyfixed with relation to the carriage, a material receptacle suspendedfrom the carriage by said cable and having opening and closing jaws, abrake mounted on the carriage and engaging the hoisting drum forretarding the rotation of said drum to open and close the jaws of thereceptacle, a pulley suspended in the loop of the cable, another cableconnected to the pulley and to the drum of a motor mounted on arelatively fixed support for extending and contracting the cable loop,and means for traversing the carriage on the track.

8. An apparatus for elevating, transporting and discharging material,comprising a track, a carriage mounted on the track, drums mounted onthe carriage, a cable wound on the drums and extending in the directionof the line of travel of the carriage and having a loop formed at apoint relatively fixed with relation to the carriage, a materialreceptacle suspended from the carriage by said cable, means on thecarriage for retarding the speed of rotation of one of the drums, amotor mounted on the carriage for accelerating the speed of rotation ofthe other drum, means for extending and contracting the cable loop toraise and lower the receptacle, and means for traversing the carriage onthe track.

9. An apparatus for elevating, transporting and discharging material,comprising a track, a carriage mounted on the track, drums mounted onthe carriage, a cable Wound on the drums and extending in the directionof the line of travel of the carriage and having a loop formed at apointrelatively fixed with relation to the carriage, a materialreceptacle suspended from the carriage by' said cable, a means on thecarriage for retarding the speed of rotation of one of the drums, amotor mounted on the carriage for accelerating the speed of rotation ofthe other drum, a pulley suspended in the loop of the cable, anothercable connected to the pulley and to the drum of a motor mounted on arelatively fixed support for extending and contracting the cable loop,and means for traversing the carriage on the track. a

10. An apparatus for elevating, t-rans porting and discharging material,comprising a track, a carriage mounted on the track, drums mounted onthe carriage, a cable Wound on the drums and extending in the directionof the line of travel of the carriage and having a loop formed at apoint relatively fixed with relation to the carriage, a materialreceptacle suspended from the carriage by said cable, means on thecarriage for retarding the speed of rotation of one of the drums, amotor mounted on the car-,

riage for accelerating the speed of rotation of the other drain, acounterweight susriage, a cable wound on the drums and extending in thedirection of the line of travel of the carriage and having a loop formedat, a point relatively fixed with relation to the. carriage, a materialreceptacle suspended from the carriage by said cable, a brake mounted onthe carriage and engaging one of the drums for retarding the rotation ofsaid drum to open and close the receptacle,

means connected to the loop of the first mentioned cable for extendingand contracting the loop to raise and lower and open and close thereceptacle, and means for travers ing the carriage on the track.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signa-. ture, in presence of twowitnesses.

THOMAS s. WATSON. Witnesses 0.: C. H. KEENEY, KATHERINE I-IoL'r.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

